Rec Room column: Use extra daylight for family time

I have to admit that changing our watches and clocks by an hour twice a year seems rather pointless in this day and age.

I understand the theory behind it, but consider it to be a nuisance, especially this time of year when we lose an hour of much needed sleep by advancing our timepieces.

With that being said, it is true that every cloud has a silver lining, even if it means adjusting once again to daylight-saving time.

You see, when our earthly measurements of time "spring forward" it means just that, spring is near and we can now enjoy all that this season has to offer.

Baseball, softball and soccer leagues are gearing up and use this time of year to take advantage of the beautiful weather we often see in the Coastal Bend area.

Organized sports are just one way to take advantage of this time of year.

When was the last time you gathered the family and had an outdoor picnic?

It sounds kind of old fashion, but this simple act can be enjoyed by everyone with minimal cost. It will conjure up "good time" memories for the older members of the family, the young ones will appreciate the simplicity of something they have not experienced before and the rest of the family can take delight in spending quality time with everyone and not being bogged down with TV and video games.

Our Parks and Recreation Department works hard to keep the picnic areas within the city parks ready for you and your family to create these wonderful memories. Add to the fun with some additional low cost family activities such as kite flying. Kites are a great way to take advantage of the spring winds.

This rewarding and often competitive adventure allows the whole family to show their skills while being entertained by these air catchers as they dance and dive bomb at the mercy of the invisible air flow in the sky.

Whenever flying a kite, please be aware of your surroundings and never fly kites near aerial power lines.

There are literally hundreds of simple and effective ways to enjoy the onset of spring and almost all can be done for free at your neighborhood, area or regional park.

When your alarm clock went off early on Sunday and you sighed at the thought of losing that wonderful hour of sleep, consider the silver lining of spring time and take advantage of the extended evening daylight in a park near you. It's a perfect recipe for the quality family time we all desire.

Shane Simon is the Recreation Services manager for the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department. Contact him at 361-485-3200 or ssimon@victoriatx.org or follow us on Facebook at Victoria Parks Recreation.